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The "TAIL" END Caboose News 
Welcome to The "Tail" End. This section of The Chessie Chapter was incepted into the original newsletter in the July 2000 issue, Vol. 1 No. 3. Since its creation, we are happy to report much action "caboosing" CSXT. Most of the CSXT cabooses started off on Chessie System's predecessor lines between 1945 and the early 1980s in many designs and variations. Throughout this time, they were painted in many predecessor paint schemes. During the '70s and '80s, as Chessie assumed control, many of their older cabooses were extensively rebuilt, mainly at the Grand Rapids, MI, shops. However, as age became apparent and their use obsolete, they were retired from service on mainlines first, then from yard switching. As they were being thinned, however, some found use on locals because of frequent back up moves and switching. Chessie System cabooses are seen quite frequently in Michigan, and this is a wonderful way to see old Chessie out and about, as only yard based RC Push engines remain bearing the Chessie Cat.
Check out the Caboose Photo Section for photos from the CC collection! Caboose Photos
CC Exclusive! Chessie System Safety Slogan Caboose Roster is Here: Chessie Safety Cabooses 5-22-08 Chessie System/C&O Bay Window #904143 was spotted at Rougemere Yard this afternoon in the company of several other cars, perhaps in line for some work at the CSX carshop here. This morning, CSX train W023 rolled east then south from Grand Rapids, MI to Defiance, OH, with B&O 175th Anniversary caboose #904000 on the rear. This is a rail laying train which has been doing work around Grand Rapids and Holland for the past several weeks, and has been in Michigan since late March (see below). 5-15-08 C&O/Chessie Wide Vision #903261 was spotted in the yards at Wayne, MI, where it is used for shove jobs and on locals. 4-14-08 Grand Rapids, MI was home to perhaps five cabooses this morning, all bearing CSX predecessor colors. Three Chessie System (C&O) painted Wide Vision cabooses (probably #903101, #903109, and #903318, although unconfirmed) were in the Odd and Mickey Mouse Yards. With the return of the Welded Rail train last week, B&O painted Bay Window #904000 in the 175th Anniversary Scheme (see below), was in the yard, and would depart around lunchtime on Y171, which began laying rail at Lamar and heading east. The fifth caboose is frame-damaged Chessie/C&O Wide Vision #904151, presumed to still be occupying a spot in the Support Yard. 3-20-08 The Dwight Jones painted B&O 175th Anniversary CSX caboose, Bay Window #904000, is making perhaps its first visit to Michigan! Painted in 2003 at Columbus, OH to commemorate the 175th Birthday of the B&O Railroad, this caboose has since been assigned to one of CSX's continuous welded rail trains. It was spotted today on W020-19 at Lansing's Ensel Yard. The train will be laying rail in Lansing before going to Chicago, then returning in April to lay more rail in middle and western Michigan. More about this special caboose can be found HERE. 12-17-07 A brief stop near Plymouth's North Yard afforded the opportunity to see Conrail Transfer #18036, along with Chessie System C-27A #904121. Chessie C-27A #904143 is also still based at Plymouth. 9-28-07 It was great to see an operating Chessie caboose in Grand Rapids' Wyoming Yard today, and an unexpected one at that! Y103, which was working industries on the Service Track, was using Chessie System/C&O Wide Vision #903318 for their work today. This caboose was used for years out of Holland's Waverly Yard on the Y121 local job, but when CSX leased away Muskegon, the 3318 was replaced with B&O Bay Window #904015. The 3318 was used on occasion from Holland, but then at some point was transferred to Grand Rapids, it was seen today. Also based at Grand Rapids are two other Wide Visions, #903101 and #903109, and in-need-of-repair C&O Bay Window #904151, which is on track 47 in the Support Yard. 8-22-07 Chessie/C&O Bay Window caboose #904143 was spotted on local backup job Y107 today around Plymouth, MI, together with MP15AC #1170 in fresh scheme 7 colors. No other cabooses were spotted in Plymouth today. 11-24-06 Chessie/C&O Wide Vision sisters #903101 and #903109 were both spotted this afternoon in the Odd Yard at Wyoming Yard in Grand Rapids, MI, each with a cut of cars. #903101 has been a common fixture on locals out of Grand Rapids for years (mainly first shift Y106 and third shift Y321), while #903109 arrived from Lansing in early October for some work at the carshops. On Oct 11, C&O/Chessie Bay Window caboose #904151 was bad ordered (and is now parked in the Support Yard), and the recently released #903109 has since been serving in place of the 4151, normally operating on the Y290 out of Wyoming Yard. - Thanks to Bob Topping for some of this information 10-28-06 It has come to our attention that an extremely rare operational caboose continues to serve CSXT on a daily basis in McKeesport, PA. This caboose is wide vision #903305, still numbered in early Chessie fashion as C-3305, and sports C&O Blue paint with Doughnut and For PROGRESS logo. This is an extremely rare find; still in its original paint from the 1960s! It is based at Riverton Yard near Pittsburgh; also based there is CSX painted Bay Window #903905. 9-18-06 According to a short article published in Trains Magazine, in January the paintshop crews at the CSX Raceland Car Shops painted shoving platform #900034 into full accurate Chessie System colors. Number 900034 is a former B&O Bay Window caboose from the 1980 Chessie System order from Fruit Growers Express. Though designated a shoving platform, none of the windows were plated over as they have been on many other such caboose conversions. The caboose sports C&O reporting marks over the bay windows since Raceland and nearby Russell Yard are both of C&O Heritage. It is complete with an accurate Chessie Safety Cross on both sides. This shoving platform will be used for yard and local work around the Russell, KY Yards.
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